The race toward quantum resistance in blockchain is accelerating, with two major networks – Starknet and NEAR Protocol – unveiling concrete steps to future-proof their cryptography against the eventual threat of quantum computing. Starknet has demonstrated an experimental, quantum-safe wallet on mainnet, while NEAR Protocol has launched quantum-safe accounts in a mainnet upgrade, signaling that the industry’s timeline for migration is shortening.
Starknet’s architecture gives a head start. Unlike most blockchains, Starknet’s verification relies on STARK proofs built from hash functions rather than vulnerable elliptic curves, so the core protocol already avoids the primary target of Shor’s algorithm. Crucially, every account on Starknet is a smart contract, meaning signature logic is not hardwired. Wallets can independently adopt post-quantum signatures without a network-wide fork or address change. An unaudited mainnet wallet using the Falcon-512 scheme has now completed a transfer, proving that users can upgrade their security without losing funds or addresses. StarkWare’s published three-phase roadmap aims to eliminate remaining elliptic-curve dependencies in state commitments and address derivation, equip existing contracts with quantum-safe storage tools, and eventually align with Ethereum’s own expected transition to hash-based cryptography – a step that Starknet says will leave it with far less remaining work than other layer-2 networks.
NEAR Protocol hits mainnet with quantum-safe accounts. On August 8, NEAR announced the launch of quantum-safe accounts, directly confronting the “harvest now, decrypt later” risk where attackers could record encrypted data today and decrypt it once quantum computers become powerful enough. The upgrade is a proactive safeguard, and NEAR urged custodians and wallets to prepare for migration. This move positions NEAR as a leader in blockchain security and may trigger increased accumulation by large holders seeking quantum-resilient infrastructure. The broader market will now watch whether other protocols follow with similar urgency, as the quantum clock ticks louder.
